The city of Muskegon's crown jewels are named Pere Marquette, Seyfreth, Kruse and McGraft among others.

Many would argue that the city's vast array of parks and recreational facilities are Muskegon's most valuable and treasured public assets.

But as city leaders look at a five-year parks and recreation master plan, there is unease at how well those jewels will remain polished in the years to come in light of difficult economic times and budget constraints.

MUSKEGON'S MAJOR PARKS

Pere Marquette Park: Known for its free, sandy beaches and Lake Michigan water quality.

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A public hearing on the Muskegon Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be Monday before the city's Leisure Services Board at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers of Muskegon City Hall, 933 Terrace.

City residents are invited to contemplate the future of their parks and recreational programs at a public hearing Monday before the city's Leisure Services Board at 5:30 p.m. at city hall. The park master plan is needed for the city to tap state park development funds.

For a city with one-nineteenth of its land held as public recreation space, Muskegon has unique properties and attractions among the 70 separate major parks, playing fields, neighborhood parks, tot lots, open spaces and special recreational facilities.

Consider:

• Between Pere Marquette and Kruse parks, the city has 2.3 miles of an uninterrupted, undeveloped sandy Lake Michigan beach that is open and free to the public.

• The Lakeshore Trail offers seven miles of Muskegon Lake waterfront walking, biking and skating along a path from Lake Michigan to the Muskegon River.

• Fisherman's Landing provides a regional draw for campers and fishing tournaments with deep-water launch ramps on the east end of Muskegon Lake.

• Beechwood Park has winter activities such as sledding and ice skating; Seyfreth Park includes skateboarding and McGraft Park has a disc golf course.

And those are just the city's major parks, not taking into consideration such gems as Hackley Park for community gatherings, L.C. Walker Arena for professional hockey, Monet Gardens for fauna, Hartshorn Marina for boaters and historic Marsh Field for baseball fans.

"It is amazing what resources we have and the types of parks in the city," said Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, the city's director of planning and economic development. "And they are all open and free to the public."

Chronicle file photoInstead of being surrounded by spectators, Andrew Wilkins was surrounded by trees as he shot baskets at McGraft Park in Muskegon Monday in this 2007 photo.

Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington expressed concern for annual park funding in the future to keep the current city facilities and future improvements in the master plan well maintained. The city's 2009 park maintenance budget is $1.45 million, up 5.4 percent from the prior year.

"We understand the importance of parks to our community," Warmington said. "But as costs go up and funds go down, parks are an easy target to take the hits. In our hearts we want to maintain our parks to have them flourish but in our minds that is where we've cut."

Warmington said going forward, the city needs to explore the free, universal access to the city's park facilities with no assistance from surrounding communities.

"Right now they are free to everybody, not just the citizens of the city but everybody," Warmington said, ticking off city expenses just at Pere Marquette from beach maintenance to park rangers and now upkeep of the pier safety lights and 911 call box.

The staff-proposed parks and recreational master plan lists a series of 17 capital improvement projects estimated to cost nearly $15 million. Once approved by the Muskegon City Commission, it will become the city's "wish list" for future years. The master plan is critical for the city to apply for Michigan Department of Natural Resources trust fund grants.

Leading the list is the Smith Ryerson Park improvement project -- an estimated $912,000 park upgrade. Smith Ryerson already has been funded for $427,000 in a state DNR grant that has been matched with $150,000 of city money.

City Commissioners recently approved a $49,438 contract with the Muskegon-based Sidock Group to engineer the Smith Ryerson upgrade of its restrooms, concession stand, irrigation system and adding bleachers, football goal posts and a trail and pier along Ryerson Creek. Reconstruction of the tennis courts and football field are still on the city's "to do" list.

The recommended priority list of projects includes such varied improvements as relocating the city's Farmer's Market; paving the parking lot and adding restrooms at the Grand Truck boat launch; placing soccer fields at Causeway Park; and providing bicycle-only camping along with a canoe/kayak launch at Richards Park.

City Planner Hope Mitchell, who is the primary author of the park master plan, said that all park improvements must include "universal" access to facilities such as restrooms. Also, playground surfaces are being converted to a rubber-like surface that is safer for children, she said.

Monday's public hearing is just another element of the public's participation in drafting the document, Mitchell said. City staff already have contacted neighborhood associations, school administrators and city-based institutions along with an online citizen survey.

After the Leisure Services Board makes a recommendation on the park master plan, city commissioners will have to approve it before it is sent to state officials. Staff hopes to have commission approval in April, Mitchell said.